Automatic screen-gate.



H. B. SMITH.

AUTOMATIC SCREEN GATE. APPLICATION FILED 3.15.1911.

1,256,837. Patented Feb.'19,1918

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HARRY SMITH, OF MERRITT, WASHINGTGN.

AUTOMATIC SCREEN-GATE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY B. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Merritt, in .the county of Chlan. and State of VVashing'ton, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Screen-Gates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic screen gates and hasfor its principal object to provide an improved and novel type of automatic screen gate for main fiumes, dams, etc., where it is necessary to close the flume against the passage of fish and at the same time provide means for allowing the passage of drift wood and other foreign matter which might obstruct the fiume or the stream. A further object of my device is to provide shuttle screens which present alternate faces to the direction of flow of water in the flume, thereby making them self cleaning.

In irrigation systems and the like, fish have a tendency to travel up the flumes and ditches similarly to traveling up creeks and rivers and as the water is frequently directed from the flumes and ditches, it is found that many fish are killed and lost. A law has recently been passed in this State and it is believed also in other States, which requires that gates be installed in the entrance to flumes and ditches in order that the fish may be prevented from entering the said fiumes and ditches. My device is designed to meet the requirements of the law and at the same time prevent the accumulation of debris which would seriously obstruct the gates.

Other objects will appear as my invention is more fully explained in the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims:

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my device shown in a flume with parts broken away along line 00-00 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my device with part of the fiume broken away. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section of a shuttle screen.

Referring more particularly ftithe drawings, numeral 1 indicates the bdttorn of a flume which is provided with sides 2. all

i of which is properly held together by means of a frame 3. In the location of the gate, side frames 3 are continued up well above Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Feb. 119, M1 118.

Application filed April 25, 1917. Serial No. 164,371.

bearings o of the fiume. My device consists of a wheel composed of four similar arms 6 of equal length on eitherend of the wheel. The four armed wheel ends are positioned parallel to each other and adjacent the sides of the flume. They are tied together at their outer ends by means of struts 7 and are supported in bearings by stub shafts 8 which are in tegral with flanges 9. The flanges are bolted or otherwise fastened centrally of the wheel. Each arm of the Wheel is preferably formed of angle arms spaced apart with a continuous channel 10 between them. The arms 6 are so arranged that the channels 10 are continuous from end to end of oppositely positioned arms. A pair of shuttle screen frames 11 are mounted within channels 10. Screen frames 11 are provided with rollers 12 which roll along the arms 6, thereby preventing undue friction between the screen frames and the arms. Screen frames 11 are covered with a wire mesh 13 which prevents fish from passing up the flume and at the same time permits the flow of water down the flum'e. The device as shown .in the drawings, is set in operative position in the fiume and it is normally maintained in said position by means of a spring catch 14 which is secured to head beam 4. The foot spring 15 may also be set in the bottom of the flume if necessary to assist in retaining the gate in, normal position. When debris drifts down the flume and lodges against the screen in sufiicient quantity to obstruct the flow of water, the pressure will become sufficient to dislodge the wheel from the retaining springs and permit it to revolve. As soon as the wheel starts to revolve,.the

screen which is in ahorizontal position and in each way similar to the first, except that the screens interchange their functions. Springs 1-t and 15 are designed to catch and hold the wheel from any rotation in excess of 9 degrees and to release the wheel only when considerable pressure is brought to bear on the screen andthe tlume. It will be seen that. my gate is automatic, self cleaning and requires no attention other than an occasional inspeetioir The shuttle screens which presentalternate faces to the direction of the [low of water is a very important feature of my device and obviates the use of more than two screens as well as making the screens selt' cl aning. Brace rods 16 may be used to stitlen the "frame generally.

While I have shown a particular form of embodiment olimy invention, I am a 'are that many minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves to others skilled in the art. without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. and Itherefore desire to avoid being limited to the exact form shown and described.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Let ters Patent, is

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a wheel haviug'armed ends which are; spaced apart, parallel diametrical channels in the said wheel ends, shuttle screens movably mounted in said channels,

. and means for retarding the said wheel against rotary movement.

2. In an automatic screen gate for streams, the combination of a. diametrically channele'd wheel revolubly mounted in said stream, shuttle screens slidably mounted in said channels, means for normally retaining said wheel against rotation, whereby when the wheel is in such position that one of the screens is submerged in an approximately vertical position in the stream, it will be so retained until suflicient debris has collected against the up stream face of the said screen to cause the release of the wheel from the retaining means and allow the wheel to revolve until another shuttle screen comes into normal position.

3. In an autonnitic revolving screen gate for streams, the combination of a pair of shuttle screens arranged normally in horizontal and vertical planes, whereby the Vet t'ieal screen is positioned transversely the stream and the horizontal screen is above the water surface, revolving wheel means for supporting said screens in normal position, channels in the said wheel within which the said shuttle screens are slidably mounted. means for normally retaining the said wheel against rotation and for releasing the said wheel for a predetermined amount of rotation, whereby whcn'a suflicient amount of debris is collected against the face of the vertical screen, it will cause .the .wheel to revolve, thereby removing the vertical screen from out oi the stram and allowing the horizontal screen to slide into a vertical position in the stream.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HARRY B. SMITH. 

